Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Volvo S40, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train3
- Unknown or other2
- Exterior lighting1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Tires1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Engine1
- Electrical system1
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2009 S40 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2009 Volvo S40 failed the safety check 2.71% of the time — 8% more often than the average 2009 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 114,083 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2009 Volvo S40 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp), 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp) and 2.4 petrol (103 kW, 138 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 206 |
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 45 |
| 2.4 petrol | 103 kW 138 hp | 36 |
| 2.0 petrol | 107 kW 143 hp | 33 |
| 1.6 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
386 first registered in 2009 are on Dutch roads; 10% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €30,829.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde273
- Band onvoldoende profiel142
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld130
- Band beschadigd62
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af60
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage58
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm57
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)51
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,940 cars built in 2009 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 259 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 2,667 of these cars first registered in 2009 took their annual MOT test. 57% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2009 the figure was 59%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.5% | 18.7% |
| Suspension | 18.6% | 16.4% |
| Tyres | 9.3% | 7.5% |
| Brakes | 8.5% | 10.1% |
| Visibility | 5.8% | 6.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.8% | 5.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
405 of these cars first registered in 2009 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 253,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
39 2009 cars are on the New Zealand register; 82% arrived as used imports, 13% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 10.4–11.6 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 239–267 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S40 2.4i · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.5 | 10.4 |
| S40 2.4i · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.6 | 10.4 |
| S40 T5 Turbo · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.3 | 10.4 |
| S40 T5 Turbo · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.3 | 10.4 |
| S40 T5 AWD Turbo · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.0 | 11.4 |
| S40 T5 AWD Turbo · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.3 | 11.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2009 Volvo S40.
| 2010423 23 Nov 2010 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles equipped with power front passenger seats, the "end stops" on the seat frame rails may be missing. If the end stops are missing, the maximu… |
| 2010396 8 Nov 2010 | Accessories On certain vehicles, there is a possibility of overheating issues of batteries in the Garmin nüvi® 760 when certain batteries manufactured within a limited date… |
| 2008260 18 Jul 2008 | Steering On certain vehicles, an improperly manufactured power steering return hose may suddenly rupture, causing a fluid leak. An unexpected loss of steering power ass… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER FRONT PASSENGER SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RAIL'S DETECTION SYSTEM WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND MAY PERMIT THE PASSENGER TO FORWARD THE SEAT BEYOND THE INTENDED MAXIMUM.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 2009 Volvo S40: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11007925 | Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service |
| 10249191 | This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method |
| 10241661 | COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION. |
| 10241651 | Rubber cushion |
| 10234826 | Left front LED flickers after turning car off |
| 10234675 | SiriusXM Tuner Replacement Process |
| 10219421 | Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions |
| 10219302 | Part information for AMT input shaft repair kits and the shim kit that is required for repair. |
| 10213885 | The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve. |
| 10213883 | ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations |
| 10213882 | Battery Charger/maintainer requirement |
| 10212892 | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS) |
| 10212891 | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| 10205650 | News Letter 69 |
| 10203167 | Volvo Chassis 2008 And Up LED Headlight Conversion Programming Procedure |
| 10188881 | Volvo?s Warranty Department tracks Retailer warranty spending by utilizing the Warranty Retailer Counseling Process (WRCP). The WRCP is used to gauge individual retailer performance on objective measures over time. By setting clear performance expectations and parameters and assisting retailers in focusing on individual processes and procedures, all retailers are provided with adequate tools to help achieve the ultimate goal of qualifying for self-authorization status. |
| 10182703 | This is a Technical Journal: It has been noticed on requested materials that PAS sensors are analyzed without finding any fault on the parts. As a help to the troubleshooting on parking assistance system, we have developed some points of possible actions in case of problems. False detection may be caused by various reason explained in this Technical Journal. |
| 10181041 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10179681 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10178520 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Volvo Lithium-ion Hybrid Battery Packs shipping and handling to Volvo Reman |
| 10178516 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Volvo Lithium-ion Hybrid Battery Packs shipping and handling to Volvo Reman |
| 10178503 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10177386 | Service Manager Bulletin: Vehicle Type and Platform Information |
| 10173760 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Service 2.0 Software & Total Upgrade Reminder |
| 10171676 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)